Part Four

And the Walls came Tumbling Down

She was waiting for him most of the morning.

The wagon where he lived was kept in a discreet location in town, away from the prying eyes of Four Corners but still close enough to the community for him to be a part of it. People had become so accustomed to seeing the small wagon, that it was thought provoking when it was not there. Like the seven men who guarded Four Corners, the wagon had become commonplace, one of the fixtures that had become part of the town since the arrival of its lawmen.

It had not taken much inquiry for Charlotte Richmond to find the wagon. When they had first met, Vin had told her about the small piece of home he took with him everywhere. Within the faded canvas and rickety wood was everything that meant anything to Vin Tanner. Everything within defined what he was almost as much as the mobility of the wagon bespoke his inherently untamable spirit.

Charlotte loved that he could be so free and knew that he needed to be out there again because the attachments of Four Corners were slowly binding him with invisible shackles. She knew if she could only speak to him. He would understand.

She knew he still loved her. Despite that terrible confrontation in town with his fiancee, Charlotte could hardly bring herself to say the word; she had seen how much conflict had been in his eyes as he wrestled with his heart to do what was right. Charlotte knew Vin well enough to know that he would do the honourable thing because that was his nature. She understood well that he would rather deny his feelings for her because he had made commitments elsewhere. She had to convince him that there was no wrong in walking away from something if it gave him no happiness. Had not Mary Travis once said to her that one had to grab whatever happiness there was? Vin probably had deep feelings for his doctor but they could not possibly compare to what he felt for her, Charlotte was certain of that.

The doctor was beautiful and rich but she was not the kind of woman that should be allowed to keep Vin Tanner's affection. As Charlotte thought of all the reasons why he would be harming himself irrevocably by remaining with Alexandra Styles, she could also think of several reasons why Vin would be so much happier with her. After all, they were of the same ilk, desiring no one to tether them to anything. Charlotte had once believed that having a piece of land and a husband was all there was to happiness but meeting Vin, she saw a new way of life. He had shown her freedom in the frontier of the unknown and Charlotte knew that if she could only convince him to abandon his misguided notion that he loved the doctor more than he loved her, they could explore that unknown together.

Still it would not be easy trying to sever a bond that had months in the building. Charlotte had made discreet inquiries around town about the nature of Vin's relationship with Doctor Styles and discovered that he had been her second choice. Styles had taken up with the gambler and only after he had rejected her, did she turn her affections to Vin. It infuriated Charlotte to know that Vin was being used so callously and it was terribly easy for someone as beautiful as Styles to trick Vin, who was never confident around women, to believe that she loved him. Besides, how could she possibly love a man who had not one skerrick of the advantageous she had? Although she would be considered coloured, she was highborn wherever she had hailed from. The doctor had money and an education. How could someone so well favoured love someone like Vin? He was her inferior in every way.

Charlotte realized that Styles was just using Vin, using him because he was convenient. As long as she showed Vin the correct amount of affection, she need never worry about him impressing his will on her or making the demands that a husband might make. In fact, the more Charlotte thought about it, the more obvious it became to her that Alexandra Styles was merely using Vin to satisfy a physical need, not an emotional one.

Somehow, Charlotte had to convince him of it!

It was almost midmorning when Vin finally made his way to the wagon. Charlotte had heard the snide whispers by some of the more gossip mongering members of the community that he did not spend his nights alone. She felt her stomach hollow at the thought of his making love to Doctor Styles and knew that she had to do something! She could not go back to her old life and Vin was her future.

"Vin." Charlotte called out as he walked past her. She had remained out of sight the past few days, knowing that until she decided what to say to him, it was best that they did not meet. Besides, he needed to calm down after that terrible encounter where passions had been running deep and words had been spoken in anger by all of them.

Vin wondered where she had disappeared to the last few days despite the fact that while she was out of sight; she was never out of his mind. The fate of Charlotte Richmond had bothered him a great deal even though he had no idea what he wanted to do about it. Buck and Ezra was right, he did love Alex and it was a love that he was unprepared to throw away but he felt some measure of responsibility to Charlotte, particularly after she had walked away from her husband to come find him.

"How you doing Charlotte?" He asked gently, knowing that it was time for them to have it all out, now that they were both a great deal calmer.

"I'm fine." She smiled approaching him. Her eyes gazed at the wagon not far from where they were standing in the back street and added. "You still got your little piece of home?"

Vin smiled faintly. "Ain't got no roof over my head without it." He replied.

The awkwardness between them was as thick as the tension that was threatening to choke them both. Vin stared long and hard at Charlotte, remembering in an instant what it was like to kiss those lips and to run his fingers through her red hair. He remembered that night over the prairie where it had just been them and the stars overhead. A gush of feeling escaped him at that moment and he could tell that she was experiencing similar thoughts. Why was it so hard to just walk away? Vin asked himself.

Because she was the first.

Charlotte had been the first woman whom he had ever loved and who had loved him back for what he was. It was hard to forget the passion that comes with one's first love but it was the truth, he still loved her still and guessed that some part of him always would. "Charlotte, I'm sorry things ain't worked out the way they should."

"Its okay," she gestured for him to stop. She did not need his pity. "I should not have expected you to wait for me. When we parted the last time, it was quite final. There was no reason for you to believe that I would be coming back."

"I thought you were gone forever," Vin swallowed trying hard to hide how much her leaving had hurt him, even though he had been the one who told her to go. At the time, it had seemed the right thing to do but the months following her departure had been an open wound in his heart. There were moments when he wanted to get on his horse and go find her, to steal her away from her husband and continue riding to Brazil like they had planned.

"I thought so too." She responded with similar difficulty. "I tried for as long as I could to be a good wife but it wasn't the same any more. Nothing was, after you." Her gaze met his and Vin found himself becoming lost in the tragic beauty of those eyes.

"I'm sorry," Charlotte said quickly, knowing that her display was upsetting him. "I wish you all the happiness Vin." She paused a moment and then added, "your Doctor Styles is a good woman I hear."

"She is." Vin nodded. "I love her."

"She must be very fond of you." Charlotte responded. "I mean the woman that she is and all."

Vin looked up at her because that remark had more of a meaning to it than just that. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't mean anything," she apologized, pleased that she had struck a nerve because it only proved that he was not as secure about the relationship as he liked everyone to think. "I just said that I'm glad she is fond of you, I mean she is extremely well bred and educated. She just looked to me like the kind of woman that should be in society that's all. You kind of expect someone like that to be married to a fancy lawyer or another doctor."

"Alex ain't like that." Vin said becoming defensive and not knowing why. "She don't believe in marrying someone cause he's important or has money. She follows her heart and its here in Four Corners where she can help people, not in the city where no one gives a damn about anyone else."

"I'm glad." Charlotte replied reaching for his hand to show him that no offence was intended against the pristine reputation of the good Doctor Styles. "It would kill you if she ever decided to go back to it."

"Why should she?" Vin questioned again. Whether intentional or not, Charlotte's probings were making him uncomfortable. "She likes it here and we're engaged to be married." He declared firmly.

"Well Vin," she tried to pacify him, aware that she had pushed all the right buttons as intended and was aiming to take full advantage of it. "I guess congratulations are in order." The words sounded sour in her mouth but Charlotte had a strategy in mind so she swallowed the bile in her throat at the idea of his marrying someone else and forced herself to make the salutation with as much genuine sincerity she could muster. "When is the date?"

"I don't know," Vin replied, seemingly distracted. "I got this bounty on my head and I ain't marrying no one until that's taken care of."

"She can't be too happy about that." Charlotte pointed out. "I know if it were me, I would not be."

"Alex is fine with it." He insisted. "She knows things are the way they are. She's okay with it."

"How terribly convenient for her." Charlotte said with just enough tension in her voice to stab at Vin's paranoia once more.

"What do you mean by that?" Vin asked. These were questions he had never asked himself. How was it that Alex had such an easy attitude to everything? Most women would be chewing at the bit for the uncertain way their relationship now stood. Instead, Alex had not been the one to press him about marriage or the engagement. It was only under threat to her reputation and how that would affect her practice that the topic had been brought up.

"I'm sorry Vin," Charlotte started to walk away, aware that she had given him enough food for thought to reach his own conclusions for the moment. Besides, her part in this had to be carefully measured. She did not want to seem as if she were casting aspersions in his relationship because he would see her interpretation of things as some way of getting him back. "I just wanted to wish you and Doctor Styles the best. I'll be leaving in the next few days."

"Leaving?" Vin looked at her sharply, unaware that she had anywhere to go. He caught her hand as she attempted to leave and forced to stay for the moment. "Where will you go?"

"I don't know," Charlotte said shrugging her shoulders. "I just know I can't stay here and know that you're with her despite everything and not be able to say a word or to be a friend to you, even."

Vin did not understand. "We'll always be friends Charlotte." He replied, even though he was more interested in hearing what she had meant when she used the word convenient. "Why do you think staying here will make that impossible. It may not be the same between us but I can help you, so can Mary and the others."

"A friend has to be honest Vin and I can't be." She swallowed; meeting his eyes so that he would understand how difficult this was for her.

"There ain't never been any secrets between us Charlotte." Vin said tenderly, unable to endure seeing those green eyes fill with tears, even now. It wrenched his heart to pieces as it had done when he used to hear her rushing away from her husband after their most recent argument. All he could think of was stopping those tears because each sob was an icicle that stabbed inside him. "Tell me."

"I love you Vin," she whispered softly, her hand moving to his cheek. "I will always love you and I love you enough to let you go. I know what I said earlier when I saw you two together and it was just the anger talking, I swear to you."

"I know that." Vin replied, reaching for her hand on his face and holding it in place. "I know you wouldn't hurt me."

"I watch you give your heart to her and I can't stand it for so many reasons." Charlotte continued. "Mostly because I wish it were me but for a lot of reasons you can't see and it is not my place or right to show them to you. I want you to be happy with her and if I say what's on my mind, you won't be. I'm begging you to let it go. You don't need to know what I think. It isn't important to no one but you, how much you love her and that's all that should matter. Its probably just my jealousy talking anyway."

She tried to pull away but her words had well and truly had the desired effect. Almost slowly, he asked her. "I want to know Charlotte. What do you think is going on between me and Alex?"

"I think she's using you." Charlotte responded automatically, once permission was given. I think you're convenient because you'd never really effect her life. Think about it, she don't need you for money, she knows marriage is far away until this bounty is settled, so she can walk away any time and I gather you sleeping with her, so that need is satisfied too. She's got a man to love her and support her without being married, so she can do anything she wants because you don't matter enough to her life to really make a difference, beyond the sex and the company." She held nothing back and watched the blue of his eyes change to black as her words sunk into his skin, until it spread across his face like a cancer.

Vin let her go and stepped back, staring at Charlotte hard because this was just a concoction to split him and Alex apart. He glared at her, seeking the weakness that would tell him that her words were borne of malice and jealousy, anything but the truth. "You're wrong." Vin said firmly and somewhat defiantly. Alex loved him. There was no doubt in his mind of that. "I ain't just some toy to her. We got plans for the future."

"I told you to let it go." Charlotte whispered. "It doesn't matter what I think. If you say she loves you, then she loves you! I don't factor into this Vin. I love you and I always will love you but I don't think you belong to me any more. You belong to her."

"I don't belong to anyone!" He snapped with uncharacteristic anger, unable to deny that Charlotte's opinion had shaken him because she had tapped into secret fears that had been inside him from the first moment, he had made love to Alex and decided that she loved him too. Charlotte's words though innocent, were bringing them to surface and now that Vin found himself unable to brush them aside. Suddenly, he wanted to know why it was Alex wanted to be with him when it was so obvious that he would never be quite good enough for her. What exactly did she see in him?

"Vin I didn't mean to upset you," she said coming towards him again because his expression had descended into a strained look of pain that she felt somewhat guilty for inciting. Although Charlotte knew she was perfectly justified in making him see the truth, she still did not wish to cause him such distress.

"I gotta go." He said breaking away from her because his mind was whirling with unpleasant possibilities and the more he tried to disregard them as nonsense, the more firmly they rooted themselves into his head. He felt it digging into his flesh, like a splinter working slowly into his mind, refusing to let him know any peace.

"Of course," Charlotte responded in complete understanding as Vin strode away, feeling a little guilty for what she had done. However the guilt faded away in the face of what she been able to accomplish. No doubt someone would hold her accountable one day but right now, she had no choice. She was driven to this because she loved him.

To get Vin Tanner back, Charlotte Richmond was willing to do anything.

He had been watching the subject for most of the day.

The client had been correct. The subject was indeed an important woman. Not only was she editor of the Clarion News, what passed for the main source of local information, judging by the content of that particular newspaper, she was not only an educated woman but also a champion of numerous causes. He had realized that she had a great number of friends, not only in the form of Chris Larabee and his six lawmen but also in the community in general. Hers would not be a death that would be forgotten easily.

He could see why Ella Gaines was so determined to have Mary Travis eliminated. The woman was not only exceedingly beautiful with her flaxen coloured hair and blue-grey eyes that were almost like a dove's but also there was strength and character in her perfect features. Chris Larabee had chosen well when he had given his heart away and the Jack of Spades was starting to reconsider the ramifications of what would ensure following his completion of the contract.

However he decided to make the hit, he knew with absolute certainty that there could be nothing leading back to him. If there was even the slightest evidence that might link to another clue that might inadvertently be traced back to him, he knew that Larabee would hunt it down with ruthless determination. After Ella Gaines had contracted him, he had made inquiries about her and Chris Larabee. It did not surprise him when he learnt that Gaines had occasion to hire another assassin once before and Cletus Fowler whom he knew to be a small time operator had done his job well. Larabee's wife and child had died in a fire because Gaines had paid for it to be done.

He wondered if she was present during that act of murder just as she intended to be present during this one.

All he knew was, he would complete the assignment as expediently as possible and disappear for awhile. Perhaps even taking that trip to the east he had been planning to for some time. In either case, when Larabee learnt that the death of Mary Travis and her young son was anything but accidental, the gunslinger would hunt down their killers just as he had hunted down Cletus Fowler and killed him.

Which was why the Jack as Spades would move tonight. After studying her closely for the past two days since his arrival into town, he was confident that he was familiar enough with the woman's habits to know when would be the opportune time to strike. The operation was slightly trickier since Gaines demanded to be present when the killing was to take place. Therefore, he could not simply enter the house in the dead of night and give the duo a painless death, as he would have preferred to do. Instead, he had been forced to purchase a wagon in order to spirit the two targets away in the dead of night to an undisclosed location so that Ella Gaines could make herself known to Mary Travis before the end came.

Despite himself, the assassin was unhappy at this particular assignment, knowing that there was more to this situation then just murder. He tried not to get entangled in the trivialities of the contract, such as knowing the why of it all. It made it simpler if he was able to just do the job without having to listen to the justification behind it. Still, Four Corners was a small town and with a man like Chris Larabee to take into consideration, the Jack of Spades had to care for Larabee was not just another angry husband, like the slew of angry husbands left behind when he had killed their wives. To be efficient, it had become necessary to learn what he could about Mary Travis.

He had to admire her even though he would be responsible for taking her life and that of her sons. There were not many women who could hold their own in the Territory and raise a son but Mary Travis had while having to endure the loss of a husband and the management of his business in the wake of his demise. The assassin thought it might be quite something to know this woman in private life, if it were not for this unfortunate situation where he had to kill her. He supposed the best he could do for her when the time came was to see to it that she at least had a painless death.

And time was coming sooner than she might possibly imagine.

Buck Wilmington was confused.

He knew that he had experienced the most perfect night with the woman he loved the evening before. In the darkness of her room, they had enjoyed the most searing sexual encounter that he had ever known and it surprised him somewhat that they had not set the sheets on fire by the heat they had generated. He knew that when he had finally fallen asleep with her in his arms, Buck knew without a shadow of a doubt that Inez was the one.

Of all the women he had met in his life, none had been able to capture his imagination the way Inez Rosillios was capable. When she looked at him with those perfect eyes of hers, he sometimes felt that he was going to melt in his boots and yet she had resisted him like no one had resisted him. Despite his best efforts to charm and seduce her, nothing had happened between them and eventually Buck gave up trying. He still could not believe that she had just walked into the saloon the night before and made love to him with such intense passion that he had yet to recover from the experience. All day, even after Chris had almost shot his ear off in the wake of the practical joke he had played upon the groom, Buck had been sighing with contentment like a cat that finally got the cream. When he had left Inez that morning, she had still been asleep and he reminded himself to bring her flowers the next time he came back. Except that she was nowhere to be found. Ezra mentioned that she had errands to run and every time that Buck had called into the saloon, she was not at her customary place behind the bar or serving customers. While he mentioned nothing to the others about their encounter last night, his friends could tell something was happening, even though they weren't entirely certain what that might be.

Finally Buck decided that the only way to see Inez was to park himself by the counter at the bar of the Standish Saloon and wait her out.

She had to appear eventually.

Ezra, who had been sitting at the table with Josiah and J.D., found it hard to ignore, as did the rest of them at Buck's distracted state of mind. Although none of them had approached the man on the subject of his problem, they all had some idea of what the cause for such discontent on the part of their comrade.

Although the trio were playing cards, pretending to be completely nonchalant to Buck's predicament, it was hard not to notice when Buck was drumming his fingers against the hard surface, drawing more attention to himself by trying to look at ease when he obviously was not.

"That's it," J.D. said throwing a surreptitious look at Buck's direction before staring back at his cards one more. "I'm going to ask him what's wrong." The young man prepared to stand up when Josiah said firmly.

"Sit down J.D." Josiah ordered.

"Mr. Dunne, this is one situation that Buck is going to have to deal with himself." Ezra said good-naturedly.

Although he did not know the specifics, he assumed that the same reason Inez had been ignoring Buck all day had to do with why the man was behaving as such now.

Each time Inez had seen Buck coming into the saloon, the woman had made a hasty exit through any means that would not allow her a face to face confrontation with Buck. At first Ezra was at a loss to understand why she was taking such great pains but the more he saw the hidden anxieties in her body language, the more the mystery began to unravel. Finally, Ezra had a good idea what was driving both Inez and Buck to such distraction although he was certain that the common denominator had generated completely different reasons for both them.

Still, Ezra remained silent even though both Josiah and J.D. were dying to know. Suddenly, Inez walked through the door and the trio watched her pause at bat wing entrance, her eyes searching the length and breadth of the establishment until they rested on the back of Buck Wilmington's neck. For a moment, she lingered on the edge of leaving again before finally choosing to continue inside the building after a second of deliberation. Ezra could actually see the indecision in her face as she made the choice. Finally, she took a deep breath as if coming to a conclusion she did not like, clutching the basket in her hand tighter as she entered the saloon, her face depicting resolved in some unknown purpose as she finally strode forward.

Inez did not know what to say to him.

She knew that he had been trying to see her all day and that she had not been ready to face him at the time. In truth, Inez was still unprepared to see Buck even now but knew she could delay this no longer. He was waiting by the bar, obviously hoping to see her as he had been attempting to do for most of the day. Inez felt a little guilty for avoiding him but she was a jumble of emotions at this point. She had enjoyed their lovemaking that night, even though it had required her to be drunk for it to happen. Even though much of what happened was hazy, how he had made her feel was not. The experience had been as she always imagined, fiery and wonderful but in the light of day, Inez was uncertain she was ready for her to begin a relationship with Buck Wilmington.

"Hello Buck." Inez announced herself quietly as she approached.

Buck spun around on his stool at the sound of her voice. "Where the hell have you been?" He gushed as soon as her saw her. "I've been trying to see you all day!"

"I had things to do," Inez said evasively as she continued walking towards the kitchen. She was aware that Ezra, J.D. and Josiah were trying very hard not to eavesdrop but their natural curiosity at the drama unfolding before them was eroding that resolve away. As expected, Buck hurried after her and they were soon given some measure of privacy from the eyes of the crowd upon entering the kitchen.

"Jeez Inez," Buck grumbled when they were finally alone. "I thought after last night. ." He stepped forward, reaching to hold her in his arms when she stepped away as if afraid of his touch.

"Buck," Inez cleared her throat, searching for the best way to say this considering the hurt that flashed across his face when she had recoiled from him. "Last night was what it was. Let's not make it any more than that." She almost whispered.

"Are you kidding me?" He stared at her open mouthed, unable to believe what he was hearing. Unfortunately, it sounded very much like the speech of farewell he delivered to his stable of women when his interest had faded or it was time to move on to his next conquest. The words were almost identical except he was not delivering the words to someone else but receiving it instead. "You're telling me that last night was just one night stand? You want me to forget it?" Buck's stammered, trying to hide the pain that was breaking his heart even as he stood before her; unable to fathom how she could disregard what had happened between them so easily.

"Buck," Inez said trying to sound as if this was not tearing her apart as well. "We both had a good time and it was very nice. Can't we just leave it at that?" She pleaded, wishing he could just accept it and make it easier on both of them.

"Nice?" Buck said slowly. "You called what we went through last night was nice?"

"Buck, I don't want to talk about this any more." Inez retorted impatiently, hating this whole discussion and more truthfully, hating herself for allowing this situation to happen in the first place. With that, she walked out of the kitchen again, deciding that she really did not want to be here in the saloon today. For once, Ezra could take care of things. Maybe she could hide at Mary's for awhile, she did not care where as long as she was not here.

"Inez!" Buck called out as he followed out to the floor of the saloon again. His outburst brought everyone's attention to directly to them and everyone had paused to look at the latest chapter of the Buck Inez romance that never quiet seem to happen. Buck did not care who was listening. His mind was still unable to grasp what she had just said to him. After what they had shared the night before, she could not seriously expect him to just forget it, could she? "How can you just ignore what happened?"

"Buck," Inez blushed furiously, not wishing to discuss this in such a public arena. However, it appeared that she would have to since he was not about to let the issue rest. "It was. ." she searched for the word and found her original estimation to be satisfactory. "Nice. Let's just get over it okay?"

"A night with me is not NICE!" Buck hissed through gritted teeth and immediately invoke laughter all across the room. He could just imagine what they were thinking. The great ladies man, Buck Wilmington humbled by the word nice. Only Ezra, Josiah and J.D. did not indulge in the amusement derived by the rest of the room. His friends merely stared at him open mouthed and astonished.

Inez swallowed visibly horrified that their private discussion had become a matter of public amusement. Her face turned crimson with embarrassment and there was a moment when Buck almost thought she would slap him or something. Instead, she glared at him with great dignity, her hair flouncing off her shoulders as she turned on her heels and left the saloon, head held high as always leaving Buck in a total state of shock.

For a moment, he just stood in the middle of the saloon, trying to understand what just happened and finding after a few seconds that he could not explain it, to himself or anyone else for that matter. Finally, he walked to the table that Ezra and the others were occupying, almost in a daze. Buck sat down heavily at the nearest vacant chair unaware that his friends were burning with curiosity since it was now fairly evident to all what had taken place between himself and Inez.

For a moment, he could not speak and knew that somewhere fate was having a great deal of fun at his expense. After everything that happened the night before that was all it meant to her? Nice? His recollection of the evening had been somewhat different. To him, it had been perfect. He remembered how sweet she had tasted, her sighs in his ear, her nails raking his back as she cried out her name in utter abandon. .how could she call that nice? It was not nice! It was hot and steamy and all the things that he had dreamed being with her would be like.

Anything but nice!

"I don't believe this." Buck mused, his voice little more than a whisper.

"You okay Buck?" Josiah asked gently, aware of what a profound upset this was to the ego of Buck Wilmington.

"I'm fine." Buck replied unable to say anything else because his mind was still too shocked by what had happened. He did not know which was worse. The fact that she saw their night together as just a physical encounter, not an expression of the love he had always felt for her or that she thought the experience was nice. Nice was something you did describe when you say a painting you didn't like or someone asked you if a dress was becoming or not. It was not the word to describe the most searing sexual experience of his life.

"I'm sure Inez meant nice in a good way." J.D. declared trying to help but invariably making everything worse. His remark caused Josiah to groan in reaction and Ezra to wince in similar exasperation.

"I'm going to say this only once," Buck leaned forward with a look in his eyes that could only be described as venomous "IT WAS NOT NICE!"

With that, the big man jumped out of his chair and stormed out of the room.

J.D. looked at his two older companions in confusion. "But nice is good right?"

Josiah rolled his eyes and remarked with a sigh of resignation. "Just play cards, kid."

Alexandra Styles was surprised to see Vin stepping into her office. He normally kept out of her clinic during the day because he knew she rarely had time to stop and chat with patients coming in and out of the building at regular intervals. Fortunately, he had appeared during the interlude between appointments so his arrival was not only welcome but an appreciated break from the working day ahead. Besides, despite his assurances that he was fine with Charlotte's presence in town, Alex knew that Vin was having real difficulty trying not to feel responsible for Charlotte's situation.

"Hey cowboy," she stepped out of from behind her desk to greet him as he entered the room. Greeting him with a kiss, Alex slipped her arm through his as she led him towards the stairs, deciding that a break would not be undeserved at this time.

"Hi Darlin'." He said quietly which was not unusual for him because Alex knew Vin was not a talker. Sometimes, they would just lay in each other's arm listening to their heartbeats, knowing words were not required because that was the kind of relationship they had.

"To what do I owe this visit?" She asked as they proceeded up the stairs. "Is everything okay?"

"Can I just come by and see you?" He looked at her and suddenly, Alex noticed something in his eyes she had never seen before. It reminded her of the days before Agnes Doherty's cabin and for some reason, it made her nervous.

"Of course you can. I never said you could. Its just that I have patients.."

"I guess you wouldn't want me hanging around until you needed me." He muttered under his breath loud enough for her to here.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean Vin?" Alex stopped short and disengaged herself from him and met his gaze. "You're the one who decided that you didn't want to walk in on my patients when I'm treating them." She felt her own anger starting to rise a little, wondering what on earth was upsetting him to be so damn acerbic with her.

"Nothing," Vin shrugged, knowing he was being foolish. "Its nothing. I've just been thinking that's all."

"Well," Alex smiled, feeling her anger wane slightly. "Don't think so much, that will help straight away." She teased.

"I ain't dumb you know." He retorted sharply.

It took a second for Alex to realize that he had taken her seriously. They had indulged in this kind of gentle teasing for as long as they knew each other. Not once was any of it ever meant to be taken in offence, not them and certainly not now. Yet as he stood before her at the top of the stairs, jaw set in defiance, Alex could tell he was angry and not just because of this, because of something else that had went deeper than either of them knew. Alex stepped away from Vin, unable to fathom what had brought on such unusual behaviour from him.

"I thought I'm the one who was supposed to get crabby once a month." She retorted. "What is the matter with you?"

"I ain't dumb and I can't just disappear when you don't need me." Vin declared, allowing the full torrent of his insecurities, inspired by what Charlotte had said, flow freely. He knew that he would probably regret it but as he looked at Alex now, he was more convinced that Charlotte was right. Look at her! Alexandra Styles was a lady and a doctor? What in God's green earth would she want with him? If Ezra couldn't do right by her, how on Earth was he expected to.

"Vin, where is this coming from?" Alex demanded, unable to believe that he was saying this. "I never said you were dumb and I sure as hell don't expect you to disappear and just for the record, I need you all the time. I love you."

Her words had some effect of calming him down but not the ability to remove the root of his troubles. "Why do you love me Alex?" He looked at her, wishing she could explain it so that he could believe her without a shred of doubt. The idea that he might just be convenient to her choice of life was too horrifying to imagine.

Alex blinked. "Why do I love you?" She pause a moment as she tried to control the pain that was snaking up from inside her. Did he even know the hurt he caused when he asked such ludicrous question? "After everything that you and I have been through, you can ask me that?"

"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "Cause I need to know Alex. I need to know what it is about me that makes me better than the next man. I ain't got any money, any future; I got a price on my head that chances are someone will come to collect sooner or later. Why do you want me? You can do better than a dumb ass drifter like me."

"I don't care about money or the future!" She shouted in exasperation. "I never did! I love you for a thousand reasons I'll never be able to explain and I shouldn't have to! What in God's name has make you question everything that we've meant to each other?"

Suddenly, it came to her in a flash of insight and in retrospect, it was logical. Only one thing had changed the past few days that could make him evaluate their relationship through a magnifying glass like this. Meeting his eyes directly, Alex asked Vin the question that would explain everything. "Have you seen Charlotte today?"

"Charlotte has got nothing to do with this." Vin declared defensively, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable about his former lover's name being brought up.

Alex stiffened and took a step away from him. "What did she say to you?"

"She didn't say anything." Vin suddenly had a premonition that he was on the fast track to a very bad situation between himself and the woman he loved. The thing was, it appeared that they had crossed a point of no return and there was no stopping it until this issue was reached to its final end, no matter what the consequences.

"She said enough for you to question everything we have meant to each other!" Alex fairly roared. "So what the FUCK did she say?"

Vin stared at her, shocked by the vehemence of her words. He had not seen her this angry in a long time and certainly not at him. Alex glared at him, hands on her hips with a look in her eyes that he knew very well. She was spoiling for a fight and Charlotte had surfaced enough insecurity inside him for Vin to give her one. "Nothing that wasn't true!" He barked back, severing the last moorings that was keeping things civilized.

"Like what!" She demanded, feeling enough rage to find Charlotte Richmond wherever she was and ripping the bitch apart. How dare she manipulate Vin like this?

"Am I just here for the sex?" Vin looked at her.

The question had the impact of a physical blow. She reeled from its delivery, unable to believe that he could tear down everything about their relationship and make it sound so cheap and tawdry. Alex had to fight the tears that wanted to come from his just being able to think such a thing. She swallowed hard, meeting his gaze with eyes of stone before she said very simply. "Get out."

As soon as the words had left his mouth, Vin knew he had made a dreadful mistake. The pain he saw in her eyes as she stood before him tore out his heart and he wanted nothing but to beg her forgiveness. "Alex. ." He opened his mouth to apologize.

"I said get out." She spoke through gritted teeth.

"Alex, I didn't mean it. ." he tried to explain. It was starting to dawn on Vin just how much that foolish statement made in spite more than anything was about to cost him. The pain in her eyes was beyond his ability to describe as was the disgust at how he could have allowed Charlotte Richmond to tumble down the walls of all the trust and love they had shared these past months. How could he doubt her like that?

"Yes you did!" Alex started to descend into the full abyss of her agony. "You think that I keep you around because you're so great in bed? Is that what you fucking think? If that's all it takes for that two timing bitch to make you question everything we mean to each other in one Goddamn afternoon, then I don't want you! Do you hear me!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door. Vin was too horrified to protest as Alex shoved him out the door. "You can go back to Charlotte because you rather believe her than you do me! You hear me Vin Tanner! I don't want you!"

With that, Vin had the door slammed in his face.

He stood there for a second, hearing the sound of her footsteps disappear as she walked away from the door only to be replaced by sobbing not long after. It hit him like a splash of cold water what he had done. Charlotte was right, Alex was too good for him and if anything had proved that more clearly, it was his actions of a moment ago. How could he have been so stupid to walk in a trap so perfectly laid out for him by Charlotte Richmond?

In any case, it mattered no more. It was over.

Alex was trying hard not to cry but she could not help it. God, even when she had found about Ezra and Julia Pemberton, it had not hurt like this. It was like a thousand knives stabbing into her heart and she could do nothing but simply endure it. She started sobbing without being aware that there was moisture on her cheeks. She stopped at the banister leading down to her clinic and wept openly because she did not know what else to do. Of all the things that could have broken her in her lifetime, this one had the power to do the most damage.

She could not imagine life without him and worst of all she did not want to. Vin had become everything to her since that night in Agnes Doherty's cabin. She had fought her feelings for him but even she had known then how hopelessly lost she was. Alex knew she could not recover from losing him as she had lost Ezra. What she had felt for the gambler paled in comparison the undying love that she felt for Vin. Still felt for him. Charlotte had poisoned his mind and if he could believe such a web of deceit after all they had been through together, Alex did not hold much hopes for their future.

Alex could not imagine what it would be like having to stay in Four Corners and face him every day, knowing what had been between them. It would be a hell she could not endure. Everything in this town reminded her of him and their life together, how could she recover with all that before her?

The answer was obvious of course. She could not.

Walking into her bedroom slowly, Alex opened the closet door and peered through the collection of personal items stored. She was still sobbing as she did this, weeping for the life that was disappearing like the tears drying on her face.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the suitcase hidden in the shadows of the corner and swung it onto the bed, where she and Vin had slept last night. The memory of that made her start crying again and it took minutes before she was able to compose herself. However, when she did, the decision became easier.

It was time to leave.

Mary Travis glanced at the clock on her side table and saw that it was well past midnight but she still could not sleep. It was hard to believe what had taken place in the last twenty four hours and the knowledge of what had transpired today left her feeling restless and unable to relax enough to drift into slumber. Was it only last night that she had been sitting at a table in Sweet Water, enjoying her bridal shower with her closest friends? It seemed so far away now and Mary was almost in disbelief at how quickly things could disintegrate.

Inez had spent most of the day hiding inside Mary's house and the Mexican's state of mind was precarious to say the least. For a few hours, Mary could not pries the truth from Inez no matter how much cajoling and coaxing she attempted. Inez was so distraught and mortified by the ugly confrontation between herself and Buck that she was close to tears at most point. As far as Mary was concerned, there was little that could shatter Inez's inner strength so irrevocably, so she was hardly surprised when the entire story came tumbling out over how she had encountered Buck last night and they had spent the night together.

While Mary did not think that this was the worse thing in the world, Inez obviously did. The editor of the Clarion was of the belief that Buck Wilmington truly did love her best friend, even though he behaved like a philandering oaf most times. It appeared to Mary that Buck would commit himself to Inez completely if they could just come to an understanding about their relationship. That Inez loved Buck was never a question in Mary's mind. It was obvious that the lady bartender cared most deeply for the lawman but was wise enough to keep her distance, lest she was hurt.

However, what took place between them the night before had altered all the parameters of their relationship. Until then, they were locked in comfortable sparring; knowing how they felt for one another but not quite committed to take that final step. Unfortunately, it had been taken prematurely now and for the worst of reasons. Judging from Inez's frantic ramblings as Mary fed her cups after cup of chamomile tea to calm her down, since alcohol who was the culprit of this whole situation was out of the question, Inez was unprepared to deal with a relationship with Buck Wilmington.

"I hurt him Mary." She had cried. "I saw it in his eyes and I knew I really hurt him."

Mary had tried to be supportive. "You did what was right for you. I'm sure Buck understands that."

"No he doesn't!" She exclaimed, descending into more tears. She was right.

According to what Chris would tell Mary later on during dinner, Buck was far from understanding. Chris himself was concerned because Buck had not fallen so hard for any woman since Alice, almost thirteen years ago. Mary was hardly surprised because Buck had always cared for Inez; he had been willing to fight Don Paulo to save her even though he had hardly known her at that point. He always said it was a point of honour to fight that duel but every one of the seven and Mary included, knew that it was not true.

Chris' advice had been to let both Inez and Buck deal with things on their own and as much as Mary hated admitting that he was right about such things, she had to agree with him. All she could do for Inez was offer her support in whatever her friend chose to do but the rest of it was firmly in Inez's purview. She was a grown woman who needed no one to tell her how to feel about anything, least of all Mary who was as much in the dark about such things as any one else. When Chris left and told her everything would be all right and their friends would sort themselves out, Mary had almost believed him.

Until Alexandra Styles turned up on her door and told Mary she was leaving. At first, Mary stared at the doctor in stunned disbelief, unable to comprehend what Alex was trying to tell her. If Inez was in bad shape then impossibly, Alex was in an even worst state. Mary who was accustomed to seeing Alex in control of her faculties no matter what the crisis was astonished to see Alex sobbing openly as she explained to Mary in disjointed sentences why she could no longer remain in Four Corners.

As expected, somewhere in the conversation, Charlotte's name emerged. Mary felt a surge of anger hearing how Charlotte had filled Vin's head with all kinds of foolish ideas, no doubt preying on insecurities he had always possessed about his relationship with Alex and exploited them. Mary listened in disbelief as Alex related how unkind and angry Vin had been and what had been the final remark that sent Alex over the edge and led her to throw him out of the house.

Mary did not know what to say, understanding Alex's anger completely because Charlotte had managed to undo in one afternoon what it had taken months for Vin and Alex to build together. All the trust that had been created between them were now ashes in the wake of Charlotte's incendiary words.

It was a ploy to split them up and Mary knew it. On some level, even Alex knew it but the issue had gone far beyond Charlotte's venomous words. It brought into conflict every nuance of trust that existed between Vin and Alex because neither of them could believe a damn thing they had ever said to each other. It angered Mary to no end and she had recalled once telling Charlotte that it was all right to desire some happiness but not like this. There was no justification that would permit this underhanded attack on two of the best people she knew. Still, Mary could do nothing to help Alex, as she could do nothing to help Inez.

Alex was intent on leaving because understandably, she could not stand to be in the same town as Vin Tanner if their relationship was well and truly over. Mary could appreciate that feeling as well, if it were she and Chris, she would feel the same way and yet for selfish reasons, Mary did not want Alex to go.

Mary tossed and turned in her bed, trying to decide what to do and knowing that she could not fix everything. Her friends' personal lives were their own business, no matter how much she wished to intervene. Even though the chill of winter was fast approaching, Mary felt hot under her covers, probably due to the fact that her mind was occupied and she had been wriggling around in her bed most uncomfortably. She wished Chris were here because she had become accustomed to his warmth at night and feeling his arms around her when she was troubled like this. For some reason, it made all the difference to have him hold her and whisper in her ear that everything would be okay. However, Billy being home made his presence in her bed for the next few nights impossible. It gave her some measure of comfort knowing that soon, he would be a permanent part of her life and they could be together all the time.

It was too hot in this room, Mary thought to herself and slipped out of the covers. She padded across the wooden floor, causing it to creak slightly. Mary winced because she was trying to be quiet so she did not wake Billy when she approached her bedroom window. Mary drew aside the curtains and was about to open it when suddenly, she noticed an unfamiliar wagon and horse waiting in the back of her house. She could see no one about as her blue-grey eyes searched the small back yard of her home but the team of carriage and horse was clearing waiting for something.

Suddenly, she heard a sound.

It took another second for her to realize that it was coming from inside her house. Mary felt her heart constrict, wondering if she was being paranoid because she was no longer alone in her house. Her son was home. Moving to the door, she listened closely and heard the sound moving up the stairs and quickly identified them as footsteps. They were heavy steps, not light enough to be from an eight-year-old boy. She knew it could not be Chris because he would not sneak in like this with Billy in the house. Mary froze at the door, opening it wide enough to see who was coming up the stairs. Her breath held as she heard the footsteps closing the distance and she withdrew inside as they reached the top of the flight and continued down the hallway, moving past her room.

Mary peered through the crack long enough to see that it was not Chris who had invaded her home but some stranger she did not recognize. For the moment, he did not seem very interested and continued towards Billy's room. Her son! Mary almost rushed out and stopped his progress but knew that would avail her nothing. He was probably armed and could overpower her easily. Mary needed to think of another plan and desperation brought one to surface quicker than she had anticipated.

Holding her position, she did not make any move to act until she heard him twist the door handle of Billy's bedroom and breached the sanctity of her son's private domain. Biting her lip to maintain her resolve, Mary hurried out of her room silently, creeping down the steps so as to not draw any attention as she made her advance downstairs. Mary knew exactly where she was going once she reached the lower floor of the building. Clad in nothing more than a sheer nightgown, she trailed cotton wraithlike as she ran into her office and searched for the double barrel shotgun that had its home in the corner of the room.

Mary grabbed the weapon and opened the locked cabinet where she kept the shells for the thing. It took seconds to load the gun and her fingers were trembling as she did it but she had no choice. She was not leaving her son to this man while she ran out and sought help. Her memory still retained the knowledge of the wagon and horse outside and instinctively knew her intruder intended spiriting Billy away if not both of them.

Mary raced up the stairs once again, feeling a little braver now that she had the means to protect herself and her son. She could hear Billy's struggles as the intruder whisked him from his bed. His plaintive wail cutting through her as she heard him cry out.

"Let me go! Ma!"

Mary reached the top of the stairs and saw the intruder with his hands firmly grasped around Billy's struggling form. Wasting no time, she raised the gun and took careful aimed. "Take your hands of my son." She said in a voice so cold and full of murderous intent that it surprised her somewhat.

"Or what Mary?" The man asked, she could see him smiling through the dark. What little light in the room gleamed off his teeth.

"Or I'll kill you." Mary said without hesitation.

"I don't think so." He replied. "Not while I hold your son in my hands."

"Ma!" Billy cried out again.

"It's all right Billy," Mary cried out. "I won't let him hurt you. I'm not going to say it again, let my boy go."

He stood his ground and shook his head. "No. I'm afraid I cannot do that. I promised my client that I would have the both of you and I did make her a promise."

Mary was hardly listening to him and fired. The double barrel made enough of a roar for it to be heard half way across town. It sound was almost deafening as its payload emptied itself in the wall next to the intruder, leaving an enormous hole as plaster and paint crumbled.

"I do believe you would shoot me." He said impressed that she had actually pulled the trigger. "Maybe I will come back for you later." He stepped forward, holding Billy before him, a clear indication that he was willing to use her son as an escape.

Mary was at a lost at what to do. She had fired the gun once, so she knew that someone would be coming eventually but they would not be in time to stop this man and his abduction of Billy nor could she shoot him lest she might hit her son. She was not good enough a shot to be certain she would miss Billy if she did pull the trigger.

"Put him down!" Mary cried impotently as he started moving forward towards her, confident in the knowledge that she would not fire as long as he held her son in her hands. Billy was screaming and the intruders reacted by cupping hand over her son's face and muffling the sounds of his terror.

"Until next time." He said smoothly as he proceeded down the stairs, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he made his downward descent. "I wouldn't shoot me until I've cleared the stairs Madam," he added. "If I take a fall, I might just break your son's neck on the way down."

"What do you want with him?" Mary demanded, feeling tears run down her cheeks because she felt powerless. In the distance she could hear voices approaching to investigate the sound of gunfire but she knew instinctively they would not arrive.

"That's privileged information." The man replied smoothly, his cool deliberate manner a sharp contrasts to Mary's fear and Billy's fierce struggles for freedom. "My client will present herself soon enough."

Her?

Mary thought quickly and knew that it mattered little whether or not this question was answered immediately. "Whatever she's paying you, I'll double it!" Mary tried desperately as she saw him reach the bottom of the stairs. Mary was keeping him in close view but knew the moment he turned the corner with Billy, she could no longer get a clear shot of him.

"A tempting offer," he remarked as his foot touched down on the floor from the last step. "Unfortunately, I do take my responsibilities to my clients most seriously. I do not renege once a contract is made."

"Momma!" Billy broke free. "Don't let him take me!"

His scream made Mary react instinctively, causing the widow to tighten her finger around the trigger. The man ducked the blast easily as the corner of the wall was blown of, raining dust and mortar in all directions. Mary was horrified by her reaction, knowing she could have killed her son by such an action. She heard his scream of fright and immediately lowered the gun, giving the stranger the opportunity he needed to make his escape. He bolted down the hallway, trailing Billy's scream as she heard the back door kicked open. Mary was still clutching her gun as she ran after him, running faster than she had ever run in her entire life.

"BILLY!" She screamed, hearing her child's voice draw further and further away. She raised her gun to fire and then realized that she was empty. The stranger had made his way across the backyard and almost leapt into the wagon that was waiting in readiness. Mary paused long enough to fumble through the pocket of her night dress, fumbling for the extra shells that she had secreted in there.

If she could damage the wagon or something, he would be on foot and he might have enough sense of self-preservation in him to abandon the idea of taking Billy.

However, it appeared Billy's kidnapper knew this too for as soon as he was inside the wagon, he hastily retrieved the reins and prompted his horse into moving.

"MA!" Billy screamed as he struggled in the grip of the man who was holding him with one hand while driving the wagon in the other.

Mary locked the bullets into the chamber of the weapon and fired again just as the wagon began moving. The roar of the shotgun panicked the animal and sent a surge of fear through it that sent it bolting forward at top speed. By the time, Mary had taken aim to fire again, the wagon was so far away that it was no longer possible to hear the shot. In dismay, she watched the wagon disappear into the night, taking her son with it. Dropping the gun in a fit of hysteria, Mary ran after it.

"Billy!" She screamed on top of her lungs.

"Ma!" She heard his voice respond in utter panic.

"Billy!" Mary kept running up the dirt track even though she had no chance of catching up to the wagon that was fading away into the darkness, leaving only the memory of her son's voice screaming into the night.

Less than an hour later, Mary found herself sitting in the kitchen of her house, surrounded by comforting words from friends who knew how terrified she was. She was aware of Inez making her a cup of tea and saying something about how drinking it would make her feel better, as if anything could. She was still clad in the nightgown she had awoken in, dirt covering the fabric and her skin where she had run barefoot after the kidnapper and her son. Billy's scream echoed in her mind like a symphony of despair that would not stop, no matter how much she tried not to listen.

The sound of Chris and Ezra returning was the only thing that managed to penetrate the haze of black that presently gripped her insides in knots of constricting fear. She wanted her son and she knew that this was only the beginning for the intruder had said that he had wanted them both She knew what was coming even though the information availed her nothing. As long as he had her son, she was helpless and while she relied upon Chris to bring Billy back, there was something about the intruder, which told Mary that he was not just some ordinary kidnapper. He had used the words client and contract, as if what was being done was little more than a business transaction, not the abduction of an eight-year-old child.

"Did you find anything?" Inez asked Chris as they walked through the front door.

"Unfortunately no, " Ezra answered, shaking his head with unhappiness at being unable to deliver any positive news. "Mr. Tanner followed the tracks as far as they would go. They continued for two miles north until we were well out of town before we found both wagon and horse abandoned. Mr. Tanner believe that the intruder must have had a horse waiting for him there." Ezra paused a moment and glanced at Mary's direction. "There was no sign of Billy. Mr. Tanner is trying to locate the tracks from the second horse, the others are with him."

Chris had left the explanations to Ezra, opting instead to go to Mary who was probably feeling as devastated as she looked. He ached with pain at what she must be feeling and wished he could have been here to stop this. Her pink cheeks and red eyes confirmed her state of distress and it only fired his rage and determination to find who would have been cruel enough to dare stealing a child right of his bed in the middle of the night.

"Mary," Chris dropped to his knees so that he could meet her gaze when he took her hands in his. "We'll find him."

"He'll come back." Mary whispered, her voice was hoarse and she was trying not to weep again. She had to keep in mind that her son was still alive. If she did not think that then nothing else mattered or would ever matter again. Billy was her life. "He said he wanted me to, so He'll use Billy to get me as well."

There had not been time to question Mary in great detail about the abductor previously because Chris had wanted to go after the man before he put too much distance between them and himself. However, now that Vin and the others were on the trail, he could ask his questions and have some idea of why this had happened.

"What can you tell me Mary?" Chris asked gently. "I need to know to find him."

She knew he did not mean Billy. Mary swallowed hard and returned her mind to the incident of just a short time ago. "He was educated." She began, trying to sift through all the images in her mind and find what was important so Chris could find Billy. "He spoke with a southern accent but I think it could have been Texan too, I'm not sure. He was well dressed, what I could see of him, which was not much. It was dark so I did not get a good look at his face. I know he had gloves on and that he had perfect teeth because he was smiling when he spoke to me."

"What did he say?" Chris asked, knowing how hard this was her and squeezed her hand gently.

"He said that he would be back." Mary met Chris' eyes with her own filled with tears. "He said that it was too much trouble taking me after I fired the shotgun and everyone heard the noise. He said he would be back because his client wanted it that way." Mary wiped the rivulet of moisture that was running down her cheek and added. "He say that she would present herself eventually."

"She?"

Something inside Chris chilled at the realization that the abductor's client was female. Inside his mind, he remembered the encounter not to long ago when he had met another man who was well dressed and spoke of protecting his client.

"Fowler?" Ezra exclaimed, making the same deduction.

"He's dead." Chris said firmly.

Mary looked at Ezra and Chris in confusion. She knew the name of course. Cletus Fowler was the man who had been contracted to murder Chris' family almost five years ago. Chris had tracked the man down and in the ensuing firefight, Fowler had died never disclosing who had hired him for the murder. "What has Fowler got to do with this?" She demanded.

"It could be her Chris," Ezra said ignoring Mary. "The woman was insane."

"Shut up Ezra." Chris said quickly because the possibility that the gambler was presenting was too horrifying to imagine. He had not told Mary about her and now it appeared that mistake was going to cause him dearly. If whom he believed was behind hiring some assassin to come after Mary and Billy, then Chris Larabee was more responsible for all this than anyone else.

"What woman?" Mary asked, able to see that Chris knew something that he was not telling her. "You said Fowler never named his client." Mary stared at him, demanding truth. When Chris could not meet her eyes and turned away, she realized that he had been lying to her.

"Mary. ." Chris walked away, wishing he was anywhere else but here at this moment because she had a right to know and he should have told her long before this.

"TELL ME GODAMN IT!" Mary shouted in such rage, she made Ezra and Inez jump in shock and forced Chris Larabee to turn around and face her.

Chris swallowed thickly. "Ella Gaines."

Mary's eyes widened and thought back to the woman who had come riding into town some time ago. She had been an old lover of Chris from almost 15 years before. Mary had met the woman and found her to be a little strange and had recalled feeling some measure of jealousy knowing she had shared a relationship with Chris. "Ella Gaines hired Fowler?"

Chris nodded slowly. "Yes. She hired Fowler to kill Sarah and Adam. She had it in her head that if.."

"If they were out of the way, you and her could be together again." Mary nodded in understanding. "You let her go before didn't you?"

He could not deny it because the truth was in his eyes and she could read him as easily as he could tell that the fury bubbling behind her eyes would soon make itself present. "I couldn't kill her." He said softly. "I don't know why and I still don't. I'm sorry Mary, I never thought.." he trailed off because he could not bring himself to say it even though Mary could guess the rest.

She slapped him hard across the face. "You son of a bitch! This woman murdered your son and child, had them burned to death like garbage and you let her get away?"

Chris was stung and he had no idea how to respond. He still did not know why he had not pulled the trigger on Ella when he had the chance. Perhaps it was the reluctance in killing an animal that was not in its right mind. He did not know and as he saw the accusation in Mary's eyes, he wished he could say something to explain why he had let Ella escape with her life when he should have killed her then.

"Now she's got my son and she'll kill him as easily as she killed Sarah and Adam because you didn't have the guts to warn me that she was out there!" Mary continued, ruthlessly brutal in her rage.

"Mary," Ezra tried to intervene because he could see the agony in Chris' eyes and knew that no one should be subject to a barrage like that. "It was not Chris' fault Billy was taken."

"Ezra, don't." Inez said trying to stop him because this was between Chris and Mary.

Mary hardly heard him. Her eyes were fixed on Chris and she did believe this was his fault just as she was furious that he had not told her about Ella or the threat the woman posed. Mary could handle the danger to her own life because that was something she had become accustomed to but Billy's life was another thing entirely. She would not accept any harm coming to him especially when Chris had some idea this could have happened.

"If anything," Mary glared at Chris with nothing less that bald anger. "If anything happens to my son, I will never forgive you. You should have told me that she was out there and you didn't! You let me bring my son home, knowing that she could just as easily do this to me and Billy as she did to Sarah and Adam! If my child dies, you will never come near me again, Chris Larabee. Never."

And with that, she walked out of the room, leaving Chris shaking for the first time in his life.

"Chris," Inez came forward, watching the despair in Chris' eyes. "She's just afraid. I'm sure she doesn't mean that."

Chris said nothing. His jaw tightening as he tried to control the agony of her words which had more effect than a thousand bullets aimed in his heart. "She may not," he said after a moment not looking at either Inez or Ezra. "But she's right. I should have told her."

And to that, no one could answer.

TO BE CONTINUED